The Victoria and Albert Museum in London

The Victoria and Albert museum London is one of the better known tourist attractions in the city, both for its novelty and depth in collection of curiosities. 

So, while I was in the city, it was on my list of must go places. The museum truly amazed me, with the vast collection of eye-catching rare and beautiful objects that include paintings, photographs, jewellery, textile, glass objects, and historic artefacts. 

The display proves how intricate and skilled the people were. I was particularly impressed and astonished by the artistry and skills of the 18th century. This museum was founded in 1852 and it bears the royal prodigal lifestyle's full reflection led by couple queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

That is why it is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design that has a permanent collection of over more than 4.5 million objects. From the collection, it can be insinuated that the royal couple were ardent fans and lovers of the arts and design and architecture. The museum, spread on 13 acres, has 145 galleries with objects of various ages, spanning from the very new to those from civilisations that thrived 5,000 years ago. 

The first thing to catch your eye upon entering the museum is the extravagant and colourful glass chandelier called Rotunda Chandelier. It resembles a big and long bunch of grapes hanging from the atrium. There are three directions one can follow for moving further into the museum depending on what one first wants to see. Moreover, there are boxes of flyers with information and directions placed as well. 

The prominent galleries are the British gallery, the ceramics and glass gallery, the fashion and textile gallery, the jewellery gallery, the Asia India and Islam gallery, the furniture gallery, the courts and sculptures galleries, metal works and paints gallery and so on. The most spectacular gallery is at the top level of the museum which is glass architecture gallery.  It is also the most visited gallery in the museum. 

One of the other visit-worthy galleries is the National Art Library located at the second level of the museum. Entry is free but visitor registration is required. The curators here are also very helpful to the visitors. The library is one of the oldest in the world and has a collection of over 750,000 books, paintings, prints, old illuminated manuscripts, rare books and letters related to some of the world's most famous artists, including notebooks that once belonged to Leonardo da Vinci. It is thus a veritable sanctuary of wonders for all bibliophiles especially for the ancient and antique books.  

The exclusive art collections - include oil paintings, watercolours, pastels and miniatures as well as displays of many different techniques of sketching in pencil, watercolour and oil are also on display. The museum's extensive art collection also comprises some 10,000 British drawings. It is also home to the famous work by Raphäel, depicting the Apostles, and originally designed for the tapestries for Pope Leo X in 1515.

In the photography gallery, there are more than 50,000 images and paintings mostly dated from the 18th century. Photographers whose works can be seen on display include Man Ray, David Bailey and Cecil Beaton. Of particular note is Eadweard Muybridge's remarkable photo series entitled Animal Locomotion from 1887.

As for the metalwork gallery, a variety of silverware from around the world as well as traditional tableware, toys and enamelled boxes are on display. From the 15th century special treasure is Pusey Horn, an ornate silver-mounted ceremonial drinking cup. As a whole, the collection consists of more than 40,000 items, including decorative ironwork, bronze castings, weapons and armour, plus more than 10,000 unique objects made from silver or gold. 

There is a common notice throughout the museum simply stating "do not touch the object unless otherwise stated". The marble statues can generally be touched. A large part of the museum's collection is not on display, due to space constraints. However, with changes in time and season the curators alter the displays.  

There is big souvenir shop at the museum's ground level, and to my sheer surprise, I found a souvenir handbag made out of a Bangladeshi cement packing bag!  

 For drinks and food, visitors can either use the cafeteria or they can go to the central open courtyard called The John Madejski Garden which is surrounded by the museum building. It is an Italianate architectural courtyard situated at the heart of the museum. The garden has an oval shaped shallow pool that has tiny steps and delicate water jets. There are chairs and tables around the pool area for visitors to relax. As the dusk starts to fall, the scene of the garden area totally changes. Many colourful lights light up from the beneath the steps of the pool and fall on the surrounding museum walls creating a serene ambience.

Located on central London's Cromwell road, the museum is quite close to the Bangladesh High Commission in the central city. It is just a 5 minute walking distance from there. If and when you are at the Bangladesh High Commission, a visit to the museum nearby is an absolute must.  

By Samiul Raijul

Photo courtesy: Samiul Raijul